UNITED Auctions (UA) have commissioned one of Scotland’s most exciting artist designers to create an exclusive medal for Judges in honour of the first, official Stirling Bull Sales.
Iona Crawford, who is originally from Stirling and works internationally as an artist and fashion designer, was specially commissioned by Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneers to design the medal, which commemorates the Judges’ important role in the national event.
The Stirling Bull Sales will take place at UA’s Stirling Agricultural Centre from Monday October 22nd to Wednesday October 24th 2012 with 875 pedigree bulls and females on show and sale.
Iona Crawford grew up at Craigend Farm near Stirling, which is still worked by her parents, Willie and Evelyn.
After graduating with a first class honours from Edinburgh College of Art she has gone on to establish an international reputation as a designer, working within both the fashion and luxury interiors industries. Drawing inspiration from the beauty and diversity of the Scottish countryside, Iona’s painterly practice is stimulated by her artistic impression of her surrounds.
In September of this year, she spent time in New York, exhibiting during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Home Fashion Market Week and the Hamptons Fashion Weekend. After a brief few days back in Glasgow, Iona flew out to Chicago where she was invited to represent Scotland as part of a cultural trade delegation during the Ryder Cup.
Moulded in antique gold each of the 60mm diameter medals depicts the head and shoulders of a champion bull – complete with a rosette – against a backdrop of Stirling’s iconic landscape, including the Wallace Monument, Stirling Castle, the Craigforth Crag and Dumyat leading down to the Rivers Teith and Forth, which converge near the Agricultural Centre.
The medals will be presented to each of the seven judges in a handcrafted Bury Elm wood box lined with green tweed. Each judge’s name will be engraved on the reverse of the medal alongside the month and date of the Sales.
Said Neil McLean, UA’s group joint managing director, who led on the project: “The introduction of the Judge’s Medal is an important new feature for the Stirling Bull Sales and, as far as we’re aware, is the first of its kind. It is a mark of respect for the judges and their considerable knowledge, experience and skill.
“It’s been a real pleasure working with Iona on this project. Her passion for what she does is infectious and we’re delighted with the design, which perfectly tells the story of the Stirling Bull Sales.”
Said Iona Crawford: “Whilst work dictates that I often travel internationally to promote my brand, at heart I am a Stirling farmer’s daughter and enjoy returning regularly to help out at Craigend and to hear what’s new on the farm.
“I have developed a deep love and fondness for the agricultural way of life which will never leave me, so I was honoured and delighted to be invited to design these unique medals.”
Stirling Bull Sales’ highlights
The Autumn Sales sees the largest entry of Beef Shorthorn heifers forward to date at the Autumn event – 122 in total will go under the hammer on Monday October 22nd.
On the same day, there will be a major reduction of the high-achieving Mosston Muir herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus from Tom and Joyce Rennie of Forfar, which has won the Walker Shortbread Trophy seven times.
To mark the close of the Charolais Cattle Society’s Golden Anniversary year, Michel Baudot President of Herd Book Charolais, will be welcomed from Magny-Cours in Central France to judge the Charolais entries on Tuesday October 23rd. He will be the first Charolais Judge to receive the new Judge’s Medal.
In addition, two charity auctions of paintings will take place during the Sales with two paintings of Beef Shorthorn cattle raising funds for the Strathcarron Hospice while the RSABI will be supported by the auction of two further paintings of bulls and a part-set of Aberdeen Angus Herd Books.
The agricultural charity will also have a trade stand at the Sales to raise funds for their support services.
Said David Leggat, UA’s executive chair: “We’re delighted with the number and quality of entries on show and sale for the Stirling Bull Sales.
“Working with the breed societies, we strive to improve animal health and we’re proud that virtually all cattle entered have a health status declaration detailed in the catalogues.”
Continued Mr Leggat: “We’re particularly pleased to have the continued support of our long-standing sponsors of the October event CKD Galbraith, whose National Farm Sales Office is based at the Centre and with whom we work closely on a number of projects.”
Full catalogue details for the Sales are available on the pedigree page of UA’s website www.uagroup.co.uk along with access to the live webcam.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
- Medals will be presented to each Judge at a private lunch or dinner following their respective show.
- Opportunities for photographs of the event are available from Sunday October 21st.
Judges
Aberdeen Angus – Wanda Hobbs, 5 Wedderlie Cottages, Gordon TD3 6NW
Beef Shorthorn – David Scarth, Twatt Farm, Birsay, Orkney KW17 2LN
Limousin – Steven Priestley, Cracrop, Kirkcambeck, Brampton CA8 2BW
British Blue – Kenneth Veitch, Drumlone, Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland BT94 5PN
Salers – Graham McClymont, Cuil, Palnure, Newton Stewart DG8 6BL
Simmental – Harold Stubbs, Derrycallaghan, Crummy, Lisnakea BT92 0PJ
Charolais – Michel Baudot, Agropole Du Marault, 58470 Magny-Cours, France
Show and Sale programme
| Sunday 21st October | |
| 8.30 am | Aberdeen Angus bull inspection |
| 10 am | Beef Shorthorn bull inspection |
| 10.30 am | Limousin bull inspection followed by British Blues |
| 12 noon | Simmental bull inspection |
| 2.30 pm | Charolais bull inspection |
| Monday 22nd October | |
| 8 am | Show of Aberdeen Angus females followed by bulls |
| 10.30 am | Show of Beef Shorthorn females followed by bulls |
| 12.30 pm | Sale of Aberdeen Angus bulls (88) & Beef Shorthorn bulls (27) |
| 1 pm | Show of Limousin females & Limousin bulls followed by Salers & British Blue bulls |
| 2.30 pm | Sale of Aberdeen Angus females (108) |
| 4 pm | Sale of Beef Shorthorn females (126) |
| 5 pm | Sale of Limousin bulls (115), Salers bulls (9), British Blue bulls (5) & Blonde (3), followed by Limousin females (10) & Salers females (16) |
| Tuesday 23rd October | |
| 8 am | Show of Simmental females followed by bulls |
| 1 pm | Show of Charolais females followed by bulls |
| 1.30 pm | Sale of Simmental females (25) |
| 2 pm | Sale of Simmental bulls (139) |
| Wednesday 24th October | |
| 10.30 am | Sale of Charolais bulls (172) followed by females (32) |
About United Auctions – www.uagroup.co.uk
United Auctions (UA) are considered Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneers and procurement specialists and operate a network of different auction markets across Scotland, including Stirling, Huntly, Lairg, Dalmally, Tiree, Islay, South Uist and an area office and lairage facility at Oban. The company conducts auctions of both commercial and pedigree livestock, including the world-famous Stirling Bull Sales (previously known as the Perth Bull Sales) and provides farm-to-farm and farm-to-abattoir procurement services.
Issued on behalf of United Auctions by JK Consultancy. For further information please contact:
United Auctions – Jenny Kumar, JK Consultancy on 07989 557198 or jenny@jkconsultancy.com
Iona Crawford – Colin Grant, Spectrum PR on 07411 697666 or colin.grant@spectrumpr.co.uk
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Contact: Jenny Kumar
Phone: 07989557198
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